sacramento to yosemite

Hi, I have posted my itinerary already, I have been researching the airfare and found that I can save about $600 by flying into Sacramento instead of Fresno. Mapquest says it takes about 3 hours to drive between the two, doe this sound accurate? Is it worth the savings? Thanks

sacramento to yosemite

There are a couple of ways to get to Yosemite from Sacramento.

You can drive from the airport on 5 then east a bit on 50 to 99 or take 5 to Stockton and switch to 99 but at any rate when you get to Manteca (which is on 99) you can 108 east to 120 and go into the park via the Biog Oak Flat entrance. This route will take a bit over 3.5 hours.

Alternately you can stay on 99 to Merced and then take 140 through Mariposa,and El Portal before you go through the west entrance into the valley. This route is along the Merced river and does not involve any mountain driving. It%26#39;s less than 15 minutes longer than the other route.

From the Fresno airport to the valley is a 2 hour drive so really you are spending an additional 1.5 - 2 hours driving which doesn%26#39;t seem like that much for $600. I think I%26#39;d go for it.

sacramento to yosemite

Suzie%26#39;s numbers sound more realistic than the 3 hour mapquest number. Once you get through Sacramento the drive is easy. Having made many trips from the Sacramento airport to the Yosemite area, I would recommend the I-5 to the Stockton crosstown freeway to Hwy 99. I have been in too many ';traffic issues'; on Hwy 99 through Sacramento.

The Sacramento airport is much larger than the Fresno airport. Have you checked on rental cars?

$600 savings is well worth the very minor time element.

Definitely the Sacramento Airport! The rental cars are all in the same building a mile or so from the airport, accessed by a shuttle van. It%26#39;s an easy airport to use.

The ';connector'; between I5 and Hwy 99 in Stockton is Highway 4. Definitely the prefered way to travel down from SMF to the south.

Since you are leaving from Wawona at the end of your visit, you might want to exit through the south entrance, to Oakhurst on 41, to Mariposa on 49, to Merced on 140, north on 99 to Stockton, over on 4, then north on I5 to the airport. There is a gas station at the rental car exit so you%26#39;ll be able to refill the rental car before dropping it off.

(If you have extra time, you can certainly make a more scenic drive up Hwy 49, but it will definitely take more time.)

I guess I don鈥檛 get what you all have a problem with re: 99 south between Sacramento and Stockton. I have driven this more times than I care to count and I have never had a problem on that road that doesn鈥檛 exist on I5. Maybe it鈥檚 all in what you are used to. I personally despise the drive on I 5 through Stockton since I think it鈥檚 far too congested while the east side on 99 is far less congested.

suzie-travels ~ yes, I guess it is just personal preference.

These are the reasons I prefer to stay on I5 from SMF when eventually headed to 99 south (Modesto or Merced area as a destination)

on I5 already %26amp; stay on I5 in busy Sacramento

there are very few on ramps or off ramps so there are fewer folks leaving or merging on the road

speed limit is 70

easy to cross on Hwy 4 (new road)

Why I don%26#39;t drive 99 between Sac %26amp; Stockton any more (unless I have to)

tougher to cross from I5 to 99 in Sacramento

the quality of the road is not as good

lots of folks leaving %26amp; entering the highway

more curves

north/south lanes closer together

more traffic

more towns

Both routes are quite do-able. It is, of course, just my opinion.

Suzie- PacificNWFamily did a great job decribing the benefits of I-5 vs. hwy 99. My main problem with hwy 99 is getting through Sacramento. Once south of Elk Grove it is usually not so bad. Also, about a year ago I was reading an article in the Modesto Bee that stated that Hwy 99 had more truck traffic than any other highway in the entire USA!!

I guess I feel that way about I 5. Probably from years of driving on 99 and not minding it one bit. It has really improved over the years so I just go with habit over trying something different. ;)

If you are going in the winter months, check to make sure the Big Oak Flat entrance. It can be closed for snow in the winter.

Oh Dear, Highway 120 to the valley is not closed when there are winter storms. Chain control perhaps, but not closed unless a rockslide or tree falling blocks the road, same as any other entrance.

209-372-0200 is the phone number for roads and weather in Yosemite. Coming from Sacramento if 120 has chain requirements and 140 doesn%26#39;t then take 140 the extra minutes will even out in the chain on time.

Have a great trip

Wow thanks for posting HC. I was really surprised to see the post saying Big Oak Flat being closed in the winter since I had never experienced that. I have seen snow piled up on the sides of the road but it%26#39;s one of the regularly maintained roads all winter long.